By Nasser Arrabyee/23/05/2011
A Yemeni journalist was shot with a bullet in his leg when armed tribesmen belonging to influential tribal leader opposing the President Ali Abdullah Saleh, tried to storm government buildings nearby the palace of the tribal leader.
The injured journalist Farook Al Kamali was working in his desk in the Yemeni official news agency Saba late after noon on Monday, his colleagues said.
About 100 journalists and administrators were blockaded in the building of Saba agency which is only about 200 metres away from the Palace of the tribal leader Sadeq Al Ahmar and his nine brothers who all seek to ouster President Saleh.
Al Ahmar family accused President Saleh of turning the government buildings around their Palace to military barracks, and “this is why they tried” today to storm these buildings like the Saba news agency, and the ministry of trade, and headquarters of the ruling party, and building of Yemeni airliner, Yemenia.
The spokesman of tribal leader, Abdul Al Kawee Al Kaisi, said however, the militants of Al Ahmar only defended themselves when Saleh’s army and security forces tried to storm Al Ahmar’s Palace in Al Hasaba area, north of the capital Sanaá.
The journalist Hassan Al Warith said that the upper layers of Saba news agency was bombarded with RPG, and other medium-sized weapons.
“ We are now in the basement, about 70 journalists, and the upper layers are under fire by all kinds of weapons, we urgently need to be rescued ,it’s been more than six hours for our blockade by Al Ahmar militants,’’ Said Al Warith, who works as investigative reporter at Saba.
The clashes of Monday nearby Al Ahmar’s Palace, which is heavily fortified, with a lot of barricades and even anti-aircraft guns around it, were not the first but the fiercest.
A source close to Al Ahmar’s family said, the militants of Al Ahmar were very angry today because they saw Saleh’s supporters transfer a lot of weapons to the school of Al Ramah, which is not far from the Al Ahmar’s Palace.
“They realized that bringing such weapons to this school is only to target them,” the source said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
“What happened today, came after a long series of provocative acts by the Saleh’s Balatega , thugs.”
“The sheikh supporters want only to defend themselves, they do not want to attack any one,” the source defended.
The billionaire Hamid Al Ahmar, accused of orchestrating and funding the 4-month anti-Saleh protests, has been grooming himself for presidency since 2006 when he publically called for a revolution against President Saleh after his candidate Faisal bin Shamlan lost elections and Saleh won.
However, some of the anti-Saleh protesters, look at what happened today nearby Al Ahmar’s Palace, as only conspiracy from Saleh and his supporters to divert the attention from the popular uprising .
“What’s happened today, is just a play from Saleh to portray the conflict as a conflict between him and Al Ahmar’s family and not a conflict between him and the whole people,” said Ameen Arrabyee, one of the leading protesters in sit-in square at the gate of university.
Monday, 23 May 2011
Sunday, 22 May 2011
President Saleh delayed endorsement of GCC deal after opposition and ruling party signed
By Nasser Arrabyee/22/05/2011
The GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani left Sana’a late Sunday after the opposition and the ruling party signed the GCC deal but without the President Saleh endorsement.
Al Zayani flew to the Saudi capital Riyadh where the foreign minister of the six Gulf nations are holding an exceptional meeting on Yemen.
Saleh said he would endorse it only in presence of the opposition leaders.
The opposition leaders already signed the deal separately , and Saleh wanted them to come to his Palace to sign.
However, Saleh’s ruling party signed the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal. Those who signed from the ruling party were: Dr Abdul Kareem Al Eryani, vice chairman of the ruling party, and Saleh’s political advisor, Sadeq Ameen Abu Rass assistant secretary general, Amtat Al Razak Humad, assistant secretary general for women sector, and Qasem Sallam, chairman of the alliance parties, small partite allied with the ruling party.
Saleh supporters delayed the signing about two hours by preventing the GCC chief and US, UK ambassadors from getting out from the UAE embassy in Sana’a.
A military helicopter came and took all diplomats from the UAE to the Presidential Palace where the ruling party representatives signed.
Armed supporters of Saleh, refusing the deal, were deployed in almost all the exits and entrances of the capital Sana’a since early morning on Sunday.
They even prevented President Saleh from getting out his place in the Police Colleague where he was holding a meeting with senior officials of his party.
The opposition representatives signed the deal late Saturday in the house of Mohammed Basindow, one of the five politicians chosen by the opposition to sign.
The four others who signed for the opposition were: Yassen Saeed Noman, secretary general of the socialist party, Abdul Wahab Al Ansi, secretary general of the Islamist party, Islah, and Hassan Zaid, secretary general of Al Haq party, and Sakhr Al Wajeeh, member of parliament who resigned from the ruling party and joined the opposition .
However, Saleh and his party were very angry why the opposition did not come to Presidential Palace. Saleh’s party said they would not recognize the signature in “closed rooms”.
The opposition refused to go to the Presidential Palace and meet Saleh.
The GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani left Sana’a late Sunday after the opposition and the ruling party signed the GCC deal but without the President Saleh endorsement.
Al Zayani flew to the Saudi capital Riyadh where the foreign minister of the six Gulf nations are holding an exceptional meeting on Yemen.
Saleh said he would endorse it only in presence of the opposition leaders.
The opposition leaders already signed the deal separately , and Saleh wanted them to come to his Palace to sign.
However, Saleh’s ruling party signed the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal. Those who signed from the ruling party were: Dr Abdul Kareem Al Eryani, vice chairman of the ruling party, and Saleh’s political advisor, Sadeq Ameen Abu Rass assistant secretary general, Amtat Al Razak Humad, assistant secretary general for women sector, and Qasem Sallam, chairman of the alliance parties, small partite allied with the ruling party.
Saleh supporters delayed the signing about two hours by preventing the GCC chief and US, UK ambassadors from getting out from the UAE embassy in Sana’a.
A military helicopter came and took all diplomats from the UAE to the Presidential Palace where the ruling party representatives signed.
Armed supporters of Saleh, refusing the deal, were deployed in almost all the exits and entrances of the capital Sana’a since early morning on Sunday.
They even prevented President Saleh from getting out his place in the Police Colleague where he was holding a meeting with senior officials of his party.
The opposition representatives signed the deal late Saturday in the house of Mohammed Basindow, one of the five politicians chosen by the opposition to sign.
The four others who signed for the opposition were: Yassen Saeed Noman, secretary general of the socialist party, Abdul Wahab Al Ansi, secretary general of the Islamist party, Islah, and Hassan Zaid, secretary general of Al Haq party, and Sakhr Al Wajeeh, member of parliament who resigned from the ruling party and joined the opposition .
However, Saleh and his party were very angry why the opposition did not come to Presidential Palace. Saleh’s party said they would not recognize the signature in “closed rooms”.
The opposition refused to go to the Presidential Palace and meet Saleh.
President Saleh refused to sign GCC deal
By Nasser Arrabyee/22/05/2011
The Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday he would only sign the GCC deal in presence of the opposition leaders, official source said Sunday.
The opposition leaders already signed the deal separately , and Saleh wanted them to come to his Palace to sign.
However, Saleh’s ruling party signed the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal, the official news agency Saba.
Saleh supporters delayed the signing about two hours by preventing the GCC chief and US, UK ambassadors from getting out from the UAE embassy in Sana’a.
Armed supporters of Saleh, refusing the deal, were deployed in almost all the exits and entrances of the capital Sana’a since early morning on Sunday.
They even prevented President Saleh from getting out his place in the Police Colleague where he was holding a meeting with senior officials of his party.
The opposition representatives signed the deal late Saturday in the house of Mohammed Basindow, one of the five politicians chosen by the opposition to sign.
However, Saleh and his party were very angry why the opposition did not come to Presidential Palace.
Saleh’s party said they would not recognize the signature in “closed rooms”.
The opposition refused to go to the Presidential Palace and meet Saleh.
The Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday he would only sign the GCC deal in presence of the opposition leaders, official source said Sunday.
The opposition leaders already signed the deal separately , and Saleh wanted them to come to his Palace to sign.
However, Saleh’s ruling party signed the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal, the official news agency Saba.
Saleh supporters delayed the signing about two hours by preventing the GCC chief and US, UK ambassadors from getting out from the UAE embassy in Sana’a.
Armed supporters of Saleh, refusing the deal, were deployed in almost all the exits and entrances of the capital Sana’a since early morning on Sunday.
They even prevented President Saleh from getting out his place in the Police Colleague where he was holding a meeting with senior officials of his party.
The opposition representatives signed the deal late Saturday in the house of Mohammed Basindow, one of the five politicians chosen by the opposition to sign.
However, Saleh and his party were very angry why the opposition did not come to Presidential Palace.
Saleh’s party said they would not recognize the signature in “closed rooms”.
The opposition refused to go to the Presidential Palace and meet Saleh.
President Saleh may back out again from signing
Source: Voice of America 22/05/2011
Yemen's president appears to be backing out again from signing a Gulf region-brokered deal that would have him transfer power within a month.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday that he is not interested in signing a deal inked "behind closed doors."
His statement came hours before he was scheduled to sign the agreement.
Plans to sign the deal have already stalled twice because of objections by the Yemeni leader.
Yemen's opposition signed the pact Saturday with the understanding that the president would sign the agreement Sunday.
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in the capital Sanaa poured into a central square Sunday that has become the center of opposition protests.
At the same time, supporters of Mr. Saleh blocked roads to protest the deal.
The agreement offers Mr. Saleh immunity from prosecution if he transfers power to a deputy within 30 days of signing.
In a speech Saturday, the president denounced the U.S.-backed proposal as a "coup" and warned that his departure could allow al-Qaida to take over parts of Yemen.
The Yemeni leader has faced months of anti-government protests demanding he end his more than 30-year rule. His government has responded to the demonstrations with a bloody crackdown.
Yemen's president appears to be backing out again from signing a Gulf region-brokered deal that would have him transfer power within a month.
President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Sunday that he is not interested in signing a deal inked "behind closed doors."
His statement came hours before he was scheduled to sign the agreement.
Plans to sign the deal have already stalled twice because of objections by the Yemeni leader.
Yemen's opposition signed the pact Saturday with the understanding that the president would sign the agreement Sunday.
Hundreds of thousands of Yemenis in the capital Sanaa poured into a central square Sunday that has become the center of opposition protests.
At the same time, supporters of Mr. Saleh blocked roads to protest the deal.
The agreement offers Mr. Saleh immunity from prosecution if he transfers power to a deputy within 30 days of signing.
In a speech Saturday, the president denounced the U.S.-backed proposal as a "coup" and warned that his departure could allow al-Qaida to take over parts of Yemen.
The Yemeni leader has faced months of anti-government protests demanding he end his more than 30-year rule. His government has responded to the demonstrations with a bloody crackdown.
Saturday, 21 May 2011
Yemeni cleric Al Zandani urges anti-Saleh protesters to accept US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal
By Nasser Arrabyee/21/05/2011
The Yemeni cleric Abdul Majid Al Zandani urged the anti-Saleh protesters to accept the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal for transferring the power.
The protesters insist on immediate ouster of President Saleh and refuse any deal or dialogue, although their parties were involved in all previous and current talks.
Earlier last March, Al Zandani who greatly influences the Islamist party, Islah that mainly leads the anti-Saleh protests, told the protesters that keeping in their sit-in squares is Jihad.
He told them that their doing so, would help to establish the Islamic Caliphate, which, he said, would be announced in 2025.
Al Zandani, who is listed in the terror lists of US and UN, denied Al Qaeda threats in Yemen. “ Al Qaeda is just a justification used by the Arab leaders to kill their people and exercise tyranny against them,” Said Al Zandani Saturday in press conference held in his house in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, to call protesters and all Yemeni to accept the GCC deal.
In the press conference Al Zandani said he received death threats from unknown phones call not to hold the conference.
“They told me they would bombard my house with fighter jets,” he said.
Al Zandani came back to Sana’a after he escaped to his tribe in Arhab in the north east of Sana’a last March after he declared his support for the anti-Saleh protests.
Before he turned against Saleh, Al-Zandani was always cooperating with President Saleh who repeatedly refused to extradite him to the Americans as one of the wanted.
Al Zandani, in his conference, warned the Yemeni people and protesters from those who call for secularity in their blogs and face-book page.
“ There are people who call for secularity in their blogs , Yemen is Muslim country, and we would confront them,” He said.
Late Saturday, the GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani arrived in Sana’a to witness the signing of the US-backed and Saudi-led deal for transferring the power from President Saleh in one month.
The opposition is expected to sign to night, while President will sign tomorrow Sunday.
The GCC chief Al Zayani left Sana’a last Wednesday after his five days of consultations with the two conflicting parties failed to sign the deal in the last minute because of who is going to sign and in what capacity.
President Saleh said he would accept and sign the GCC deal to avoid a civil war, although he described the deal as “coup operation” and external conspiracy. Saleh also warned the world from Al Qaeda in Yemen after leaves the power. He expected Al Qaeda take over some provinces like Mareb, Shabwa, Abyan and Hudhrmout.
The Yemeni cleric Abdul Majid Al Zandani urged the anti-Saleh protesters to accept the US-backed and Saudi-led GCC deal for transferring the power.
The protesters insist on immediate ouster of President Saleh and refuse any deal or dialogue, although their parties were involved in all previous and current talks.
Earlier last March, Al Zandani who greatly influences the Islamist party, Islah that mainly leads the anti-Saleh protests, told the protesters that keeping in their sit-in squares is Jihad.
He told them that their doing so, would help to establish the Islamic Caliphate, which, he said, would be announced in 2025.
Al Zandani, who is listed in the terror lists of US and UN, denied Al Qaeda threats in Yemen. “ Al Qaeda is just a justification used by the Arab leaders to kill their people and exercise tyranny against them,” Said Al Zandani Saturday in press conference held in his house in the Yemeni capital Sana’a, to call protesters and all Yemeni to accept the GCC deal.
In the press conference Al Zandani said he received death threats from unknown phones call not to hold the conference.
“They told me they would bombard my house with fighter jets,” he said.
Al Zandani came back to Sana’a after he escaped to his tribe in Arhab in the north east of Sana’a last March after he declared his support for the anti-Saleh protests.
Before he turned against Saleh, Al-Zandani was always cooperating with President Saleh who repeatedly refused to extradite him to the Americans as one of the wanted.
Al Zandani, in his conference, warned the Yemeni people and protesters from those who call for secularity in their blogs and face-book page.
“ There are people who call for secularity in their blogs , Yemen is Muslim country, and we would confront them,” He said.
Late Saturday, the GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani arrived in Sana’a to witness the signing of the US-backed and Saudi-led deal for transferring the power from President Saleh in one month.
The opposition is expected to sign to night, while President will sign tomorrow Sunday.
The GCC chief Al Zayani left Sana’a last Wednesday after his five days of consultations with the two conflicting parties failed to sign the deal in the last minute because of who is going to sign and in what capacity.
President Saleh said he would accept and sign the GCC deal to avoid a civil war, although he described the deal as “coup operation” and external conspiracy. Saleh also warned the world from Al Qaeda in Yemen after leaves the power. He expected Al Qaeda take over some provinces like Mareb, Shabwa, Abyan and Hudhrmout.
GCC chief arrives in Sana’a again
By Nasser Arrabyee/21/05/2011
The GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani arrived in Sana’a later Saturday to witness the signing of the US-backed and Saudi-led deal for transferring the power from President Saleh in one month.
The opposition is expected to sign to night, while President will sign tomorrow Sunday.
The GCC chief Al Zayani left Sana’a last Wednesday after his five days of consultations with the two conflicting parties failed to sign the deal in the last minute because of who is going to sign and in what capacity.
The GCC chief Abdul Latif Al Zayani arrived in Sana’a later Saturday to witness the signing of the US-backed and Saudi-led deal for transferring the power from President Saleh in one month.
The opposition is expected to sign to night, while President will sign tomorrow Sunday.
The GCC chief Al Zayani left Sana’a last Wednesday after his five days of consultations with the two conflicting parties failed to sign the deal in the last minute because of who is going to sign and in what capacity.
Al Qaeda to take over Yemen after President Saleh steps down
Source: Reuters,21/05/2011
- Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Saturday that al Qaeda could take over in many parts of the Arabian Peninsula country if he leaves office under a Gulf-brokered deal which he said he has accepted.
Saleh has twice backed out of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) transition deal, most recently on Wednesday, despite diplomatic wrangling by U.S., Gulf and European officials.
But a Yemeni official said Abdullatif al-Zayani, the GCC secretary-general who has headed mediation efforts, would arrive again in Yemen on Saturday, and a signing by Saleh and the opposition could take place as early as late Saturday or on Sunday.
"If the system falls...Qaeda will capture Maarib, Hadramout, Shabwa, Abyan and al-Jouf (and) it will control the situation," Saleh said, listing provinces where al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing has been active.
"This is the message that I send to our friends and brothers in the United States and the European Union ... the successor will be worse that what we have currently," Saleh said
"We welcome the Gulf initiative and we say that we will work with it in a positive way for the sake of our homeland (although) in reality it is a mere coup operation ... and part of foreign pressures and agendas," Saleh said at a ceremony.
On Friday, Saleh called for early presidential elections, which he said was aimed at preventing bloodshed as three months of protests raged on in the fractious country.
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in cities across Yemen on Friday, demanding Saleh end his three-decade rule.
Washington and Riyadh, both targets of foiled attacks by al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing, are keen to end a stalemate that has pushed Yemen further to the brink of chaos and could give al Qaeda more room to operate.
On Saturday at some 35 protesters were injured as security forces confronted protesters at the university in the Red Sea port city of Hudaida, witnesses said. Dozens were suffering from the effects of teargas.
A civilian was shot dead on Friday as gunmen clashed with the army at security checkpoints around the flashpoint Abyan province, where al Qaeda militants are active.
Saleh is a clever operator who has survived many tussles with rivals, and skillfully used patronage and favors to keep tribal and political backers loyal.
Even before the wave of pro-democracy protests against his rule, Saleh was struggling to quell a separatist rebellion in the south and a Shi'ite insurgency in the north.
Yemen, where half the 23 million people own a gun, and already facing regional rebellions, has become a concern for regional stability among its Gulf neighbors, particularly neighboring oil giant Saudi Arabia, and the United States, which has seen Yemen as an ally against al Qaeda.
- Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh said on Saturday that al Qaeda could take over in many parts of the Arabian Peninsula country if he leaves office under a Gulf-brokered deal which he said he has accepted.
Saleh has twice backed out of the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) transition deal, most recently on Wednesday, despite diplomatic wrangling by U.S., Gulf and European officials.
But a Yemeni official said Abdullatif al-Zayani, the GCC secretary-general who has headed mediation efforts, would arrive again in Yemen on Saturday, and a signing by Saleh and the opposition could take place as early as late Saturday or on Sunday.
"If the system falls...Qaeda will capture Maarib, Hadramout, Shabwa, Abyan and al-Jouf (and) it will control the situation," Saleh said, listing provinces where al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing has been active.
"This is the message that I send to our friends and brothers in the United States and the European Union ... the successor will be worse that what we have currently," Saleh said
"We welcome the Gulf initiative and we say that we will work with it in a positive way for the sake of our homeland (although) in reality it is a mere coup operation ... and part of foreign pressures and agendas," Saleh said at a ceremony.
On Friday, Saleh called for early presidential elections, which he said was aimed at preventing bloodshed as three months of protests raged on in the fractious country.
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in cities across Yemen on Friday, demanding Saleh end his three-decade rule.
Washington and Riyadh, both targets of foiled attacks by al Qaeda's Yemen-based wing, are keen to end a stalemate that has pushed Yemen further to the brink of chaos and could give al Qaeda more room to operate.
On Saturday at some 35 protesters were injured as security forces confronted protesters at the university in the Red Sea port city of Hudaida, witnesses said. Dozens were suffering from the effects of teargas.
A civilian was shot dead on Friday as gunmen clashed with the army at security checkpoints around the flashpoint Abyan province, where al Qaeda militants are active.
Saleh is a clever operator who has survived many tussles with rivals, and skillfully used patronage and favors to keep tribal and political backers loyal.
Even before the wave of pro-democracy protests against his rule, Saleh was struggling to quell a separatist rebellion in the south and a Shi'ite insurgency in the north.
Yemen, where half the 23 million people own a gun, and already facing regional rebellions, has become a concern for regional stability among its Gulf neighbors, particularly neighboring oil giant Saudi Arabia, and the United States, which has seen Yemen as an ally against al Qaeda.
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